Pistols and Wings

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This one felt great to finish. We started over a year ago and her visits were sporadic. But today we knocked it out.

I'm slowly getting used to having partially finished work walking around. While I know, full well, …

Secret number one

When in doubt: clean.

Secret number two

Always be professional.

The South lost, but that doesn't mean you have a right to judge the guy getting a rebel flag on his throat. But you have every right to make fun of him in the back of the shop.

Secret number three

Soaking it all up can be overwhelming. Just know that eventually some of it will make sense.

*eventually = God only knows. So in the words of Tupac Shakur: "girl, keep your head up."

And thus concludes our three part series.

Just when you feel safe

I've heard about, and have slightly experienced, extreme sin skin. But today I tattooed a lady behind her neck. Well, slightly at the top of her spine. The stencil went on perfect and life was good. I setup a 7 to line. As soon as my needles went into her skin, I knew …

It's the little mistakes

This week I had almost finished an outline and I wasn't happy. Instead of a solid, clean line, it was a variety of thicknesses and wavy.

What had happened? I concentrated on my stretch... it was fine. I wondered about my needle depth, so I set it so I could ride the …

Scale rip

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For his first tattoo, this guy picked a flesh rip from an old flash book. I took the rip and added some Dan Hazelton flare to it. His skin tear outs are incredible.

I found a good reference photo for the scales. I needed something with obvious …

Busy, busy

I've been working hard lately. From tattooing to web design, my hands are tired. Then, when I need a mental break, I go and play Xbox. It doesn't really give my hands rest, but it takes me away for a little while.

Right after the holidays ended, tattoos picked up big …

Full circle

The past two weeks have introduced two new apprentices in our shop. It's strange. I've never been one to easily fall into any role. But being the lowest on the pole in a tattoo shop somehow became normal. Now, I'm getting the same questions I asked a couple of years …

On inventory

As work comes in, I have to constantly keep my inventory in check. By asking myself questions, I'm starting to feel close to getting a handle on things. But lately I've been realizing that I need to include time into the equation, not just supplies. Anyway...

First …

Sailor Jerry Collins

... Just did another... 20-yr-old blond--nice looking... anyway she moaned and I backed off on the liner & got a weak line--Old "Deafy" in Philly had it all over us--he couldn't hear them groan, and he just tattooed them!

Anyway, maybe I'm just a negative thinker, …

Shawn Barber

I have been learning to tattoo. It's been a very slow road for me: as I teach two days a week, have been working as a professional illustrator for several years, and now painting full time. I'm slowly altering my life and schedule to revolve around tattooing and …

The Used - Album art

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This guy wanted the artwork from The Used's In Love and Death album on his ribs. Alex Pardee's work is wonderful, so I was happy. He specifically asked to have the bottom root angle down to go with the shape of his body... and I was …

Source Material

Let me get straight to the point of this post: I find it difficult when people come with an image, obviously pulled from the internet, and want an exact tattoo of it.

I almost feel weird admitting this: I download music and TV shows from the internet for free - thank …

Down time

I work in a street shop. A lovely street shop! Two of the guys have been tattooing together for years and years. Both are amazing tattoo artists, and both have built up a clientele. So they remain steadily booked in advance, minus cancellations or bad weather.

Then …

I'm around

Do pardon the delay between posts. I'm here, just incredibly busy. The beginning of winter tends to slow down walk-in tattoo work. Now that the holidays are gone, business is slowly picking up. That and unfinished pieces are coming back in to get worked on.

And I've …

On Touching Up

After reading through Nick Baxter's forums awhile ago, I started to realize the value in touch-ups. Being able to see how your work healed, then tweak it can create a dramatic difference. My client

Happy New Year!

Every year I make about 5 resolutions, in hopes of keeping at least 2.

Last year I stuck with giving up fast food and soda. And I couldn't have felt much healthier. This year I'm going to start running again, give up toxins (alcohol, energy drinks, and homeopathic …

A Study in Pen Art

Studies in Pen Art (7.5 MB PDF)

For some reason, I've always loved this booklet by W.E. Dennis. It's been available online for awhile, but never quite accessible enough for me to utilize. So I spent some time with it: cleaned up the scans, adjusted rotations, resized …

Merry Christmas!

From me to you, a lovely rendition of a - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.